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[mr_goldenage]

The First Indonesian comic book super hero was a character called Sri Asih, a female heroine who appeared in 1953. Here is the the info so far.....

"Raden Ahmad Kosasih or better known as RA Kosasih born in Bondongan the village, Bogor on April 3, 1919. He is the youngest of seven siblings. Raden Wiradikusuma, his father was a merchant from Purwakarta and Sumarni while his mother came from Bogor. His love of the comic has been nurtured since the first grade Inlands School (elementary level) in Bogor. Kosasih first known comics from the newspapers used wrapping paper grocery mother. Formerly he was fond of Tarzan comic strip, though the story did not read sequentially. Another of his hobby is watching movies in theaters and puppet show performances that lasted all night.

Learn to draw interest in continuing education when he appeared at Hollands Inlands School (HIS) Pasundan in 1932. He learned from the many to imitate the pictures from illustrated books Dutch language lessons.
After graduating from HIS, Kosasih getting crazy about drawing lessons and watch a puppet show performances.

[mr_goldenage]

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[mr_goldenage]

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[narfstar]

AWEWSOME

[mr_goldenage]

Next Up: The First Philippine Super Hero & When is it a Golden Age?

RB @ Home

1941-1945 The War Years A Brief History Of Philippine Comics

Cartoons were put to effective use during the Japanese occupation as a tool of propaganda. The Japanese Military Administration knew well of the cartoons

[mr_goldenage]

The First Philippine Superhero Ipo-Ipo

There have been many super heroes in the history of Philippine comics, and one can argue that Francisco Reyes' Kulafu may have been the first, who first appeared in the early 30's. But Kulafu, like Francisco V. Coching's Hagibis, were heroes in the mold of Tarzan and Prince Valiant.

The traditional superhero, and by this I mean the costumed superhero in the tradition of Batman and Superman, may have appeared in the Philippines after the second world war, after the influx of super hero comics from America brought by American GIs stationed here.Liberato Abrena or Lib Abrena to His colleague is a native of Pangasinan. He started to make cartoons on after World War II. Abrena was a quiet person and in his late twenties During that time. He also always wear dark glass as being half blind. The soap opera listening to radio and watching movies (particularly cowboys) take much of His time. did not quite met in 1940 was Lib's because only a few cartoons makes his contribution was for the special issues of the Dawn. He also makes his strip cartoons Flowers Magazine.

Liberato Abrena or Lib Abrena to His colleague is a native of Pangasinan. He started to make cartoons on after World War II. Abrena was a quiet person and in his late twenties During that time. He also always wear dark glass as being half blind. The soap opera listening to radio and watching movies (particularly cowboys) take much of His time. did not quite met in 1940 was Lib's because only a few cartoons makes his contribution was for the special issues of the Dawn. He also makes his strip cartoons Flowers Magazine.

But when they do Lib's " That's Life "in the first issue of post war Sunday Times, he suddenly became popular. The Sunday Times are about kany a full page every Sunday for her That's Life and dmg each page was taken by a more or less timely topic. The cartoon revealed a kindly, gentle disposition. Abrena When Lib died on Oct. 24. 1949 after two weeks of having a typhoid, Times attempted to take some substitute for his outstanding work but never could quite approximate Abrena's soft satire.Some of the cartoons Abrena's strip is "The Life Nga Naman" in 1946. He is also the illustrator of "Whirlwind , the first costumed superhero in the Phil. In Birth Magazine in April 1947 and the "Glimpse of Life "to turn the series for Dawn. He also previously published his book,"The Best of Lib Abrena" its a 64 pages book and contains 768 lovable & laughable cartoons published Bandayon Book Co.. in 1950. It is compilation of his cartoon strip appeared in Sunday Times from May 12, 1946 - Oct. 16, 1946 .

From what I know so far, and based in information passed on to us by Komiks historian and collector Dennis Villegas, the first costumed superhero in the country may well be a character named IPO-IPO, created by Lib Abrena and OS del Rosario. IPO-IPO, or "tornado" in English, first appeard in April 1947 in "Magasin ng Pagsilang" (Magazine of Birth).

IPO-IPO was not only costumed, but he was super powered as well, wielding powers that not only controlled the wind be he also appeared to be invulnerable.Ipo-ipo derived his superpowers from the whirlwind. His superpowers included being as fast as the "speed of the wind" and bullets just pass through his body once fired upon from guns.Lib Abrena was a classic Filipino comics artist. Together with Os. del Rosario, he created what was presumably the first costumed superhero in the Philippines, 'Ipo-Ipo', that debuted in Magasin ng Pagsilang in April 1947. He was also present in Liwayway Magazine with the cartoon series'Mga Sulyap Sa Buhay'.

IPO-IPO is presumably the first true Pinoy komiks superhero, a character created by Lib Abrena and Oscar del Rosario in April, 1947 in a Tagalog magazine called Magasin ng Pagsilang. Ipo-Ipo is an interesting character, he gets his superpowers from the whirlwind. He acquires the speed of the wind and bullets fired into him just pass through his body.

Fresh from the horrors of Japanese invasion, Abrena and del Rosario pitted Ipo-Ipo against the ruthless Japanese soldiers who refused to surrender, even after the unconditional capitulation of Japan in 1945. Ipo-ipo was created by Lib Abrena and Oscar del Rosario in April 1947 as a reaction against Japanese military invaders who occupied the Philippines in World War II and refused to surrender even after the admission of defeat by Japan in 1945. Ipo-ipo was featured in Magasin ng Pagsilang (literally "Magazine of Birth").

References

[mr_goldenage]

1886-1921

Komiks is the Tagalog term for comics created or produced in the Philippines. It is simply the English word

[mr_goldenage]

Is this of any interest to anyone here? Do you want to see more? Yes or no?

Mr Goldenage

[narfstar]

Of any interest? You gotta be kidding we love this stuff.

[mr_goldenage]

Ok fair enough. I have just gotten permission from the gentleman for the South African info to use his stuff here and I await one other persons permission then I am somewhat good to go.

I am also working on Italy's info too. Not as far along with that one but still a good bit into it as to give it a go here too as to who is who for their golden age of super/costumed characters.

And I am mired working out the who's who from India - Indonesia - Malaysia costumed & super powered characters and soon as I sort out that mess you will see a part two of Indonesia as well as a part one on the other two countries.

Part II of the Philippines is in the works with the 2nd and 3rd heroes of the Pinoy First heroic age and should be ready soon too.

Which one would you like to see first?

RB @ home

[narfstar]

No preference. The stuff is just so neat. I don't download much since i can not read it but I love to check out these cool things. I have created a  Philippine section.

[mr_goldenage]

SOUTH AFRICA

Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1920s to 1940s

In 1924 Henry Winder drew "Duggie, Lemmie & Hi-Ti", which was probably South Africa's first Comic Strip for  children. It appeared in the Rand Daily Mail for 3 years and featured animal characters (a rabbit, a lemur and a  crow). His next strip was "Pippin, Twinkle and Budge" in 1928 (a dog, a cat and a grey mole) for the same  newspaper. In 1927 Edward Ridley drew "Piet, Jock and Auntie - or The Veldies on Tour", which was also an  early Comic Strip for children, for The Outspan. The strip appeared weekly from 1927 to 1941 on the children's  page. In 1934 Jacobus Esterhuysen drew "April en Jannewarie" for Die Volksblad for 5 years. In 1937 he drew a  second strip called "Twak" about the adventures of his pet dog. In 1935 Alfred Hayes drew "Young Folk"  for  The Cape Review. In 1937 Eben Leibbrandt drew "Troue Vriende" and "Sonkie en Sampie" for Die Brandwag. In  1948 he drew "Krato die Oermens" for Die Brandwag.  In 1938 David Marais drew "The Ace" for Sunday Express.
in 1938 Joseph Montgomery drew "Spic & Span" for Rand Daily Mail. In 1938 Manuel Santana drew "Koos the  Cop" for Sunday Express. In 1940 Albert Humble drew "Trompie", about the antics of a little black dog,  for Die  Suiderstem. Also in 1940 he drew "Krulbol-hulle" for Die Kleinspan section. In 1941 H. Marriott-Burton drew "At  the children's Outspan" , featuring the characters "Nutty the monkey, Humpty the tortoise, Aunt Hilda the hippo  and Uncle Wattie the warthog" for The Outspan until 1950. In 1937 J.H. Rabe started producing the first comic  strips to appear in the Afrikaans Press: "Jan Rap" (1937), "Ontwikkeling" (1938) and "Daan Donsies en Hendrik  Horrelpoot" (1947).

For further information see:
J.H. Rabe

In 1939 T.O. Honiball produced "Oom Kaspaas", later "Jakkals en Wolf" (1942) and "Faan Brand" (1946) and  "Adoons-Hulle" (1948). In 1941 Victor Clapham drew "Grompot" - the gunner with a grouse - for Sunday Times.
In 1940 Bob Connolly drew "Stella the Steno" for Rand Daily Mail for 5 years.
Appearing in Die Jongspan during the 1930s was a comic strip called "Knapsak and Klonkie", by A.P. Du Toit. In  1939 he published a children's comic book called "Ons Vriendjie" - probably the first of its kind in South Africa.  He produced 3 books of his strips, published by Nasionale Boekhandel: Knapsak en Klonkie op die maan (1942)  Die Klawervier (1946) Knapsak en Klonkie in die land van die Tassieblaar (1950) In 1941-1943 Monty Wilson  produced "The Adventures of Intambo and Mafuta" and "Humorous Native Studies".
For further information see: Monty Wilson. In 1945 Victor Ivanoff drew "Kalie die Kuiken" and "Jors voer die  orlog" for Die Brandwag. 

In 1946 C.P. Mocke drew "Die Kaskenades van Bles" for Die Jongspan. In 1946 W.  Leendert Akkerhuys drew "Die Goue Been" for Die Jongspan. In 1947 David Macgregor drew "Bobbie and Betty"  for English and Afrikaans Newspapers for 2 years. In 1947 Wolf Von Loeben drew "Oom Piet Vertel" for  Jeugland.  In 1948 Gerald Norton drew "Stukkies & Stan" for Mining News.  In 1948 Ivor van Rensburg drew  "The Adventures of Prince Thala" for Bantu World. In 1948 Roland Wentzel drew "Boetie en Adoons" for  Volksbylaag. In 1949 Frank Purcell drew the comic strip "Did you know that?", dealing with South African  natural history, appeared in The Cape Argus.

For further information see:
Frank Purcell

Thanks Mahdi at  Readers Den for this section on the availability of Foreign Comics in South Africa during this  period:

From what I gather, US comics were initially imported in the early 1940s (one of my oldest customers, now  passed on, recalled buying a very early Superman off the shelf) but by late 1940s/early 1950s these imports had  vanished, except for Humour Comics and Classics Illustrated.  I suspect this was related to the Horror Comics   scare and the publication of Wertheim's "Seduction of the Innocent".

The Entertainments (Censorship) Act of this period in South Africa's history would have made it more difficult  to import Foreign Comic Books.

Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1950s

In 1950 Victor Clapham drew "Sampie" or "Hee-Haw for President", in which a donkey and a horse-fly featured -   for The Forum. In 1950 Albert Humble drew "So is die Lewe" for Die Suiderstem. In 1950 Keith Stevens drew  "Poochy" for Trigger Post. In 1951 he drew "The Adventures of Zambezie and Sir Mac" for The Outspan and  Young Opinion. His most famous comic Strip "Ben en Babsie" first appeared in 1955.
For more information see: Keith & Lorna Stevens. In 1951 Sean Coughlan drew "Sixpence", about the  experiences of a domestic servant - for The Outspan. In 1951 Frank Purcell and his wife, Margaret, created "Van  Riebeeck's Diary" which was published in eighty daily instalments in The Cape Argus, Diamond Fields  Advertiser, Natal Tribune, The Star. This series was published in book form in 1951.
For further information see: Frank Purcell. In the early 1950s Gerald Norton drew "Phaki" for Umteteli wa Bantu   and "Joey-Hulle" for Saamtrek. In 1954 the first DC Comics were reprinted in South Africa - only five titles were  produced: Len Sak drew the comic strips "Vossie en Kieste" for Die Brandwag from 1956-1962 and "Mabel and  Sagile" for Bantu World from 1956-1968 and "Tim Tuck" for The Cape Argus freom 1959-1960. His most famous  comic strip was "Jojo" which first appeared in Drum in February 1959. For more information see: Len Sak
in 1956 Bill Papas drew "Goombi - Private Detective" for Drum Magazine.  For further information see Andy  Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5, pages 67-69. Bill Papas  illustrated the Book "Under the Tablecloth" in 1952:
In 1957 Conrad drew "Dick Hunter", a story with a South African boy and his love for the veld - for The Sunday  Times. In 1959 Alex La Guma drew "Little Libby: The Adventures of Liberation Chabalala" for New Age. For  further information see Andy Mason's Book "What's So Funny" - Double Story 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77013-071-5,  pages 67-69. In 1959 Atlas Publications reprinted 2 DC Comics titles, Action Comics and Adventure Comics:
For further information see: Atlas Publications. Also in 1959 Mimosa Publications started reprinting numerous 
DC Comics and other titles: In the 1950s the Entertainments (Censorship) Act of this period in South Africa's  history would have made it more difficult to import Foreign Comic Books. Only Humour comics, Dell "Life Story"  and Classics Illustrated were distributed. In the early 1980s I found this comic at Tommy's Book Exchange, Long  Street, Cape Town. At the time it was the oldest comic I owned, so it brings back good memories. Sometimes the  price stamp on the cover is the only way of confirming where a comic book was distributed. The stamp is faint,  but looks to say "The Late ..." - I wonder if this was a South African distribution stamp?

End of Part I

[mr_goldenage]

SOUTH AFRICA Part II

Chronology of South African Comic Books - 1960s

From 1959 to 1964 Mimosa Publications started reprinting numerous DC Comics and other American titles: In  1960 Andre De Beer drew "Speurder Loot Louw" for Justitia.  In 1960 Chris Du Plooy drew "Danie Theron se  Verkenner" for Die Brandwag. From 1960-1962 Len Sak drew the comic strip "Pletz" for Zionist Record and SA  Jewish Chronicle. In 1963 he published his own Jewish children's comic book "Gibor", which ran for four  issues.  Gibor contained the strips "The Kaplans", "Kupi", "Dov" and "The Secret Tunnel" - the latter three  strips were continued in Zionist Record in 1964. In 1964 he drew the comic strip "Honey" for Elethu Mirror, and  from 1968 to 1980 drew the comic strip "Cherrie" for The World, Sunday Post and Weekend World. In 1961-1962  Daniel Erasmus drew "Rooi Jan" for Die Brandwag. In the early 1960s David (Dov) Fedler drew "Hail Caesar" for  New Nation, "The Hunters" for The Star, "Buzbee" for Garden and Home, "Captain Industry" for Industrial  Management.  In 1962 Johann Roos drew "Harrie the Hippie" for Personality. In 1963 Johan van Niekerk drew   "Die Olifante van Kalanga"  and "Uys Barnard" for Huisgenoot. In 1963 Tony Grogan drew "The Blots" for Daily  Dispatch, and in 1968-1969 he drew "The Van Riebeecks of Doringvlei" for Farmers weekly. In the mid-1960s  "Slang van die Soutpanne" - by Pienaar Smit (writer) and Johan van Niekerk (illustrator) was published in the  Afrikaans press (some of these strips were also published in book form by Nasionale Boekhandel in 1966). In  1966 Johan Van Niekerk drew "Fritz Bender" for Die Huisgenoot. In 1968 Keith & Lorna Stevens started their  comic strip "Flip Foster", which appeared weekly in The Star. In 1969 Sean Latham drew "Waterhouse" for Rand  Daily Mail. In the late 1960s Carel Birkby (writer) and Peter Ogilvie (illustrator) produced the strip "Stroppie's  Lot" for Sunday Times. In the late 1960s Ivor Van Rensburg drew  the strips "John Graydon", "Famous  Mysteries" and "True Tales of South Africa"  for various newspapers. He also drew "Just Nuisance" for the  Weekend Argus. In the late 1960s Len Lindeque drew "Springbok" (written by Ralph Loubser) for Dagbreek en  Landstem, "Olaf Bouwer" (Written by Stoffel Pienaar) for Rapport and "Black Bullet" for Bona. In 1969 Frank  Purcell drew "Uncle Rupert" for Farmer's Weekly. Also in the 1960s Photo Story Magazines became very  popular: In June 1964 the doors opened - and South Africa started selling hundreds of imported DC and Marvel
Luke Cage was an interesting anomaly to me, a powerful black American hero, but I was reading his exploits in  a country where black people had been colonized, impoverished and segregated into ghetto townships, away  from peacefully privileged white suburbs. As I saw it, the height of black aspirations for those traveling in from  the townships were as a maid or a gardener, dependent on their gender. Little did I know then, that about this
time (1975), black South Africans had been 'supplied' with their own  super-hero, a Luke Cage Power Man
equivalent, or a prototypic Superman, who could leap tall buildings, but not fly.

[mr_goldenage]

SOUTH AFRICA Part III

So the introduction of Mighty Man was not a novelty in itself - what earmarked him as different was that he was  an illustrated super-hero, a more expensive, swanky alternative to photo-comics. This was in a market where  South Africans had hitherto only published overseas reprints - such as DC comics in rebranded local labels  such as Mimosa in the 1950's and 1960's - or Supercomix for the 1970's local equivalent of Marvel. (Again, some  wonderfully evocative examples can be found on this blogsite.)

Mighty Man was targeted towards - and published in - the townships under the rubric of 'Afri-Comics', branded  as South Africa's own equivalent of Super Man. Early issues in the series were subtitled: 'The Human Law  Enforcing Dynamo.' The problem was, of course, that at that time the main thrust of laws in South Africa were  apartheid laws. But Mighty Man (MM) never challenged any agencies or laws outside the township in which they were set -  ostensibly Soweto. A black hero seemingly meant exclusively for black people, his enemies were township  gangsters ('tsotis'), drug Lords ('dagga merchants') and generally opponents of peace and 'law and order'. As  Bill Mantlo (1978) states, Mighty Man propounded subservience to laws, non-violence and an anti-gun message  (for blacks). With readership targeted to the townships and perhaps priced to ensure affordability to a relatively  impoverished community, it was evident Mighty Man was implicitly intent on ensuring compliance to laws - with  the underlying message that opponents of 'law and order' were invariably gangsters, murderers and, in some  instances, 'communists'. (As Mantlo asserts, a thinly veiled allusion to the then banned African National  Congress.)

Mighty Man

[mr_goldenage]

SOUTH AFRICA Part IV

As you have seen from parts 1 through 3 that there were no costumed crime fighters or super heroes that were native to South Africa in comic strip form or in Comic Book form until the mid 1970's. Which begs the question.......

So who were the first South African Super heroes/Costumes Crimefighters?

The Photo Story Magazines printed in the mid 1960's featuring such characters as Die Swart Adelaar (The Black Eagle), Son Of Samson, Supermask, and perhaps the Flash are the answer to this question.

I put them in this order as I do believe that this is the possible correct chronology for these characters.

Die Swart Adelaar (The Black Eagle) had 14 issues that I am aware of. I do not currently own any of this characters issues although I am currently trying to buy two issues of this characters photo stories magazine. Dressed in all black with a white circle on his chest with a black eagle inside the circle, one see's the Black Eagle fighting the criminals that beset ZA.

Supermask is one of the more interesting characters as he is a black man in a super hero costume. Owning no issues of this characters title it is a bit hard to tell what the character is about. I have a few covers all depicting his fight against crime which entails Supermask fighting his fellow black man without any white men in site for at least 3 issues that I have seen so far.

Son of Samson. Samson can be found in African Film Magazine although he wasn't the star of the magazine but a sub-feature that was occasionally had the cover to himself. Again you only see Son Of Samson dealing with the "Black" threat, much like Mighty Man would do in the 1970's. One would think that this was the norm for black superheroes in South Africa on the several covers I have seen Son of Samson on.

Other characters were

[narfstar]

More great info. Comics are/were everywhere.

[mr_goldenage]

I am glad you liked it. There sure was comics everywhere, or jsut about everywhere. I am working on Italy and the Netherlands right now as well as South East Asia and India. As soon as one of them are done I will post the next one. Other than Narfstar, I'd love to hear other people's comments. How about it gang?

RB @ Work.

[narfstar]

When you look at your books look at the hundreds of views. Not a lot of downloads but lots of views. I think there is so much at CB+ that we realize that we can not download everything. But that does not keep us from looking and enjoying. Lots of people do not say anything because they may feel guilty about taking without giving back. There are a lot of people looking at your books especially superhero.

[narfstar]

Richard can you please make a cbz file containing all the foreign covers that you have collected. You put them at the end of your post and it just wets my appetite.

[mr_goldenage]

Isn't there a file size limitation?

Richard

[narfstar]

OK several cbr 

[mr_goldenage]

Jim,

I wish I was that organized.

In reality I only save the covers and/or images I really like or want for cataloging purposes. I wish I was that organized that I could break them down by country but truth be told I dump them into a large file that is just a "general" file designated for cataloging purposes like I use to use for the old Good Guys site. I can cobble together some covers to match or be under the maximum limit for file size (70 MB isn't it?) for you over several files. Also I can give you the sites that I grab the covers from as I save every site and blog that I go to for future use. In addition to that I find Ebay (Ebay Italy Ebay France Ebay UK ect.) a useful place to find covers as well if you know what characters you are looking for. International Heroes and sites like that are somewhat useful. I will gather some up this weekend and post them here. Let me know where to upload them to.

RB @ work

[paw broon]

Richard, this is excellent work and, apart from being educational is seriously entertaining.  So you're tackling Italy and Netherlands?  Can I help?  I loved the scan of Radar.  The Radar comics were reprinted in the U.K. and just to confuse matters, the title changed to Wonderman. The Radar issues were published by Famepress, London in 1962 - 16 issues and in 1967 they were published again as Wonderman (same stories? - not sure) by Alex. White for 26 issues.  Both incarnations were printed in Italy.
These sites will help:-
http://www.masinogiovanni.com/02fumetti/05_fumetti_tascabili.htm
http://www.collezionismofumetti.com/
Have a footer about with this one and if you get stuck, please let me know.

Lots here on Dick Bos and beeldromans
http://www.dickbos.info/pages/beeldromans/beeldromans.php
http://www.dickbos.info/pages/home/english.php
http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/dick_bos.html
And, of course, Lambiek:-
http://www.lambiek.net/dutchcomics/index.htm
Search for Marten Toonder.

Don't know if you fancy this lot but, if you do, here's piles of Hong Kong comics.  Nightmare to work through the site as it's all in Chinese but I'm finding some lovely stuff - all hites and big fights.
http://www.dm5.com/manhua-hktw/

[mr_goldenage]

Paw,

Thanks for the kind words and the links. they are very helpful.
I am glad that you find these profiles of interest and entertaining as well as educational, which was my intention, to show that there are other comics out there that have histories that are as interesting as any that are featured here.

I find that other countries Golden Ages are fascinating in their own right and have a rich history worth exploring, which I enjoy doing and is one reason I have not scanned and uploaded hardly any comics of late (bad Richard I know). I get so caught up in this exploration that I find myself lost in these explorations because they are so fascinating.

The one I am working on right now is Italy which is proving to be a bit of a challenge trying to sort out who came first when and such, thus I am working on time-lines and the like and doing the research on that now. Meanwhile I will probably follow up my Indonesian and Philippine "articles" (for a lack of a better term) in the interim, to move forward in time to show what came next in those two countries. I hope you all find those as interesting as well.

Again, thank you for the links and your kind words and I appreciate your comments, they are most welcomed. Take care.

Kindly

Richard

A Side Note - Google Chrome Translator works decently in translating most languages so the Chinese one was not too bad. Had to wait until I returned home from work to take a peek @ the site. Lovely I might say! Thanks again for the links all are just fine and dandy. Great stuff indeed.
RB

[narfstar]

The popularity of photo comics is something I was not aware of in so many other countries. The wrestling comics in Mexico to Killing in others.